Department of Chemistry
Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600036
Research Colloquium
Title: Molecular Engineering of Aromatic Redox Shuttles and Its Application in Organic
Redox Flow Batteries and Metal-ion Batteries
Name: Priya. V (CY18D106) Venue: CB 310, Seminar Hall
Guide: Prof. S. Sankararaman Date & time: 25. 08. 2023
Co-Guide: Prof. R. Kothandaraman 3 to 4 PM
Abstract
Increasing worldwide energy demands and rising CO2 emissions have motivated a search for new technologies to take advantage of renewable sources.1 However, renewable energies such as solar and wind energy are highly intermittent. Hence there is an ever-increasing demand for
storing energy generated from renewable sources. Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising candidates for absorbing energy from the grid, when surplus, and supply it back to grid when there is a demand. The great advantage of RFBs over other conventional batteries is its
decoupled power and energy and hence, the flexibility of the energy storage is enhanced. Of the many flow systems investigated, the aqueous vanadium and zinc-bromine RFBs are the systems that reached commercial space. 2 However, these inorganic metal-based RFBs use toxic metals and corrosive supporting electrolytes like hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, etc. which are the main concerns. Therefore, our interest grew in environmentally benign non-aqueous all-organic redox flow batteries (NORFB) for stationary energy storage applications, which utilize low-cost, high voltage organic redox-active molecules (ROMs) and operate at a wider potential window bestowing high energy density than their aqueous counterparts. This research colloquium seminar will be focusing on the molecular engineering aspects of organic materials for application in rechargeable batteries. Using the molecular engineering approach, a non-aqueous static redox battery was demonstrated using 1,4-dimethoxy naphthoquinone anolyte and 2,5-ditertiarybutyl-1,4-dimethoxybenzene catholyte.3 To utilize
maximum electrolyte and to improve the energy density, a prototype non-aqueous flow battery was demonstrated using a new class of redox anolyte, 2,4,6-triphenylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate (TPT) and N-decylphenothiazine (DPTZ) catholyte.4 Besides, we also explored the organic cathode materials for the application of solid-state metal ion (Zinc-ion and Lithium-ion) batteries. The detailed investigations comprising all mechanistic approaches and experimental details will be discussed in the seminar.


References
1 T. Liu, X. Wei, Z. Nie, V. Sprenkle and W. Wang, Adv. Energy Mater., 2016, 6,
1501449.
2 E. Sanchez-Diez, E. Ventosa, M. Guarnieri, A. Trovo, C. Flox, R. Marcilla, F. Soavi, P.
Mazur, E. Aranzabe and R. Ferret, J. Power Sources, 2021, 481, 228804.
3 P. Vallayil, K. Ramanujam and S. Sankararaman, Electrochim. Acta, 2022, 407, 139889.
4 P. Vallayil, S. Sankararaman and K. Ramanujam, J. Energy Storage, 2023, 58, 106325.

Signature of Guide Signature of Co-Guide


Signature of Co-ordinator Signature of HOD